Executive Secretary Ralph Recto emphasized that paying contributors of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) deserve enhanced healthcare coverage that aligns with the premium rates they regularly remit to the state insurer.
During a radio interview on Friday, June 19, Recto disclosed his upcoming meeting with PhilHealth leadership next week. The discussion will focus on expanding medical benefit packages tailored specifically for paying sectors, with an emphasis on middle-income workers.
”Ayon sa batas, iba ang benefit package para sa kanila. Dagdagan natin ito.”
The Executive Secretary acknowledged widespread grievances from formal employees and individual contributors. Many feel their actual medical coverage remains disproportionately low compared to the mandatory premiums deducted from their earnings.
“Halimbawa, kung ikaw ay empleyado at nagbabayad ng mahigit ₱30,000 hanggang ₱60,000 maximum contribution kada taon, ₱300 billion kada taon ang pondo na ginagastos ng PhilHealth. Kapag nagkasakit ang 10 milyon, samakatuwid ay ₱30,000 ang support value niyan.”
Recto contrasted the situation of paying members against indigent beneficiaries, pointing out that while lower-income brackets access full medical aid without premium mandates, the working class continues to bear heavy financial contributions.
”So kung nagbayad ka ng ₱50,000 to ₱60,000, ang indigent ay libre. Walang bayad. On average, ₱30,000 dapat ang bayad, pero indigent ka, wala kang binayaran. So panalo ka. Kaya alam ko, yung mga nagbabayad, dapat taasan natin ang PhilHealth benefits.”
This push for adjusted benefits comes nearly a year after the implementation of the government’s zero-balance billing policy, which mandates full PhilHealth coverage for medical costs incurred within public hospital facilities.
The proposal is part of the administration’s broader healthcare adjustments aimed at optimizing state insurance funds, widening medical coverage, and reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for Filipino households.